Abstract
Elastomers used in protective gloves can be sensitive to the action of solvents used to disperse commercial solutions of nanoparticles. These effects may include the swelling of the polymer, leading to a modification of its mechanical and chemical properties. Modifications to the properties of the polymer will impact the protection provided by the protective gloves. The goal of this work was therefore to study the swelling of several elastomers when exposed to commercial solutions of nanoparticles. The study involved four elastomers and three commercial solutions of colloidal titanium dioxide (TiO2). Swelling was assessed by measurements of mass gain and length change. Tests were also performed with technical and ultrapure solvents corresponding to the liquid carriers. The solutions had a significant effect on the swelling of nitrile rubber, latex, and neoprene. A large mass gain was recorded for short immersion times, indicating a possible penetration of the nanoparticle liquid carrier into these elastomers. Length change measurements revealed a swelling anisotropy effect with nitrile rubber and latex in the solutions of colloidal TiO2. No effect was measured with butyl rubber. The results show that great care must be taken when selecting protective gloves for the handling of nanoparticle dispersions.
Highlights
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are manufactured and used in several commercial products such as paints, varnishes, and sunscreens [1, 2]
This paper examines the swelling of protective glove elastomers in the liquid carriers and commercial solutions typically used to disperse nanoparticles
This paper has investigated the swelling of elastomers used in protective gloves upon their exposure to commercial solutions of nanoparticles
Summary
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) are manufactured and used in several commercial products such as paints, varnishes, and sunscreens [1, 2] If their use seems inevitable, more and more studies are signaling that they may have harmful effects on health, especially for workers and researchers. Another study showed a small increase in the number of cancers found among workers who were in contact with nTiO2 [6] According to these results, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified titanium dioxide in 2B-group as possibly carcinogenic to humans [7]. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified titanium dioxide in 2B-group as possibly carcinogenic to humans [7] This has led several government agencies to recommend application of the precautionary principle [8, 9]. This includes the use of protective gloves against chemicals, even if no thorough scientific validation of their efficiency has been made, under conditions relevant to the use of nanomaterials under a typical occupational setting
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